In other news, Task Force Liberty soldiers detained eight individuals, including four suspected members of an IED cell, during a raid in Tikrit at 4:20 a.m. today. One detainee is suspected of being the cell leader. Task force soldiers also seized a number of weapons and various explosives during the raid.

Task Force Liberty soldiers also stopped a pair of IED attacks and detained four individuals in north-central Iraq Aug. 20. A combat logistics patrol near Balad Ruz observed two adults and a child digging a hole for an IED at about 6:15 p.m. Soldiers seized the IED after detaining the three individuals.

The two adults were taken to a coalition force base for questioning; the child was released to his family. The IED, made up of two 130 mm artillery rounds, was destroyed.

Later, a combat patrol near Tikrit caught two individuals digging near a previous IED blast hole at 7:30 p.m. and took them in for questioning.

Officials reported that coalition aircraft flew 38 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Aug. 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close-air support to coalition troops near Bayji and Tikrit.

Officers on patrol noticed a hole in the median and stopped to investigate. Inside the hole, officers found three artillery shells. No initiation device visible was seen. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to secure the munitions.

Also, Iraqi soldiers, manning a traffic-control point, detained one anti-Iraq force member after searching a vehicle in Mosul Aug. 20.

Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, found one light machine gun and 2,500 rounds of ammunition while searching vehicle of the suspect, who was transported to a detention facility.

Iraqi Public Order Brigade officers and coalition forces conducted a cordon and knock in an area around Fallujah suspected of insurgent activity Aug. 20.

Officers with the 2nd Public Order Brigade and the 1st Battalion, 6th U.S. Marines, targeted several homes to be searched which were believed to be housing anti-Iraq force operatives involved in the murder of female barbers, in trafficking weapons and in planning suicide attacks.

The first house searched yielded Iraqi Army uniforms and insurgent propaganda. One male suspect was detained on the premises who directed officers across the street to the primary target's home.

The target was captured and his computer and vehicle were confiscated. Both men were transported to a detention facility.